With so many reviews online how to find the best yet cheapest ebook reader in India. To solve this here’s a list of best ebook readers in India.
Cheapest eBook Readers in India
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Imagine you are going on a trip. You’ve had a rough year and all you wanted was to relax and unwind. You start packing when you are faced with an impossible decision- shall I carry Book A or Book B. Well, if you are one of the persons who finds themselves stuck in similar situations, you are a victim of the Bibliophile conundrum. Don’t worry, we have just the cure for that.
What you need is an ebook reader. Apart from their light-weight and portable design, they come with an E-ink display which reduces strain on eyes. Even if you are a daytime reader or a night owl, ebook reader got you covered. Sporting an anti-glare backlit display, it allows you to read in the glaring sun or even the dead of the night. Some ebook readers also come with a waterproof design, so that you can enjoy a read at the beach, pool or the comfort of your bathtub.
Now that you are pondering over to invest in an ebook reader, all you have to do is go through our list of some of the best ebook readers and pick up one which suits your needs.
1. Kindle Paperwhite 10th gen (2018)
Kindle is the name synonymous with ebook readers and it is so for a reason. Recent addition to the Kindle family is the Kindle Paperwhite 10th gen. It has a 6” 5 LED screen with a 300 ppi resolution with laser quality text so clear, it makes you feel like you are reading from a paperback. Thinner and lighter than its previous versions, this pocket friendly device can easily fit in right in your palm or the back of your jean pocket.
Exhibiting a backlit anti-glare display, it enables the reader to use the device even in extreme light conditions. To increase its readability, Kindle comes with adjustable Font size, space and line margins which can be adjusted according to personal preferences. A single charge can power up the device for approximately 4-6 weeks (Half hour reading per day with Wi-fi turned off).
One feature that Amazon boasts is its Whispersync feature. It lets you switch seamlessly between the Kindle ebook reader and smartphone Kindle application without ever losing where you left off. This device also comes with an IPX8 rating, making it splash proof and allowing accidental immersion up to 2 meters for 60 minutes.
Paperwhite is available in 2 variants- 8 Gb Wi-Fi or 32 GB Wi-Fi +4G, which may be used to download books or transfer your important documents to your ebook reader. Amazon pays for the 4g connectivity if you opt for the Wi-fi+4g version, thus saving you the constant hassle of getting it recharged every month. Also, its immense storage can hold thousands of books and personal readable material.
Verdict- Packed with bundles of features, this device is quite budget friendly and should be considered if you are an average reader.
Also, read: Best Echo Dot Deals for 2019
2. Kobo Clara HD
The main competitor to Kindle, Kobo is a not-so well-known company but that doesn’t mean that it is any less than the former. Coming with a 6” inch, 8 LED display with 300 ppi, Kobo Clara HD comes with an anti-glare display with Comfort light pro. This feature enables the reader to adjust light according to the time of the day and surroundings. Also, as compared to Paperwhite which only uses white light, Kobo uses white as well as orangish light which feels soft of the eye while reading at night.
Clara HD is lighter than Paperwhite with a plastic back which enables easier handling of the device. One of the main features which intrigued users was the Pocket sync feature i.e. all the articles that you save to the pocket application on your smartphone or pc can be read on your Clara.
Font size, spacing and styles can also be adjusted according to user preferences. A single charge means 4-6 weeks of usage depending on individual to individual. It is available in 8 GB Wi-Fi variant which can store thousands of books. One of the drawbacks of this device is that it isn’t water proof. Also, as compared to Amazon Kindle’s vast collection of books, Kobo’s Library is smaller and does not contain magazines. Although, the library is growing. This device is also ad-free i.e. no shoving down recommendations down your throat every time you open library.
Verdict- Clara HD gives a tough competition to Paperwhite with its amazing display, UI and minor drawbacks and is a good investment.
3. Kindle Oasis 2017
Amazon launched the Kindle Oasis in 2017 for its upper clientele and the ones for whom reading is more than just a hobby. Oasis has a 7” inch big display which provides more reading area thus reducing page turns. It comes with 300 ppi anti-glare display with adaptive light which adjusts according to your surroundings.
Along with touch controls, it also has dedicated page turn buttons which integrate according to the position of your palm. With an aluminum back and a sleek and ergonomic design with dedicated space for palm holding, it aids easy and longer duration reading without tiring your hands. Battery life is similar to Kindle Paperwhite i.e. 4-6 weeks with half hour use.
Oasis is the first Kindle device to come with audio support i.e. you can add audio books to your eBook reader and listen with the help of Bluetooth connected earphones. This device also comes with an IPX8 rating, making it splash proof and allowing accidental immersion up to 2 meters for 60 minutes. One of the features that catches attention is the integrated Goodreads (available when Wi-fi is switched on). This book lover’s community helps you to keep a track of your current and past readings and future potential purchases as well as book reviews.
Oasis is available in 2 variants- 8 Gb Wi-Fi or 32 GB Wi-Fi +3G. Amazon pays for the 3G connectivity if you opt for the Wi-fi+4g version, thus saving you the constant hassle of getting it recharged every month. It also comes with whispersync feature which lets you switch between devices without losing your progress. Whispersync also lets you move swiftly between your audiobook and eBook. Unfortunately, you cannot use both audiobook and readable text at the same time.
Verdict- Oasis is the ebook reader with most features available currently in the market. It is worth buying if you have the spending capacity and will.
4. Barnes & Noble Nook Glowlight 3
Barnes & Noble is a brand, every book reader is familiar with. Being the largest chain of bookstores in the United states, it was expected to unveil an ebook reader for the avid book reader
The Nook Glowlight 3 has a 6” anti-glare, scratch and fingerprint resistant display. It has a 300 ppi Glowlight display which evenly distributes colors across the screen. Unlike, Paperwhite and Clara HD, it exhibits a cool blue to warm yellow display which reduces strain and facilitates easier reading.
Nook Glowlight 3 uses dedicated page turn buttons instead of touch controls, thus, you can easily shift turn pages even if your hands are moist or a bit greasy. The device is sleek and has matte finish on its rear which facilitates its use for a longer duration. It features night mode which can turned on manually or automatically It traces the time of the day to adjust colors accordingly.
Barnes and noble boasts a battery life of 50 days i.e. approximately 7 weeks, although it lasts not more than 5-6 weeks which is pretty decent. It comes in an 8 GB Wi-Fi variant and is decently priced. Few drawbacks of the device are- lack of water resistance, not a large enough library compared to Amazon Kindle (Pretty ironical, being a bookstore) and stiff turn buttons.
Verdict- Although, given a few drawbacks, it is a pretty decent basic ebook reader with some good features.
5. Kobo Forma
Kobo Forma was introduced by the company in its luxury segment to compete with the Kindle Oasis. This device comes with an 8” large screen with an anti-glare display and Kobo’s signature Glowlight Pro feature, which adapts to the surroundings and provides the user with a comfortable experience. The 300 ppi display is bigger as compared to Oasis and thus encompasses more text on a single page.
Forma has a convenient design with matte finish at its rear and a curved handle which makes its handling easier. On the curved handle are the page turn buttons (touch control also present) which further enhances the usability as the orientation can be changed according to one’s convenience. It also comes with Overdrive feature i.e. one can easily connect to local public library and buy or borrow magazines without any hassles. This substitutes for the limited collection present on Kobo store.
Unlike Kobo Clara HD, it is IPX8 rated, thus is splash resistant and can sustain 2 meters immersion for 60 minutes. So, it allows you to enjoy your read while sipping ice tea in your jacuzzi. Available in 2 variants i.e. 8GB Wi-Fi and 32GB Wi-Fi, it doesn’t come with a cellular connectivity function.
The battery life is up to industry standards, i.e. 4-6 weeks on single charge varying upon individual usage. It consists of most of the features of Clara HD i.e. Pocket sync, ad-free reading etc. It also comes with vaster variety of font styles and adjusting options as compared to Clara HD.
Verdict- Kobo Forma is an eBook reader with bundle of features, with almost identical features and price range. It depends upon your personal preference i.e. Kobo or Kindle as each brand has their unique features.
| Ebook Reader | Supported Formats |
|---|---|
| Kindle | AZW3, AZW, TXT, PDF, MOBI (Unprotected), PRC, HTML, DOC, DOCX, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP (Through conversion); AAX (Only Oasis). |
| Kobo | EPUB, EPUB, PDF, MOBI, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, TIFF, TXT, HTML, RTF, CBZ, CBR |
| Barnes and Noble | EPUB, PDF, Adobe DRM EPUB, PDF, JPG, GIF, PNG, BMP |
Final thoughts
Some people might consider buying a tablet instead of an ebook reader as it serves multiple functions. Although, that is true, but there are lot of drawbacks to this. One must consider the following points while buying a tablet to substitute for an ebook reader.
- Ebook reader uses E-ink technology which significantly reduces blue light emissions and strain on your eyes.
- Blue light leads to disturbance in sleep cycles
- Tablets may or may not have an anti-glare display, which allows you to read outside.
- The library accessible to tablet users is quite limited as compared to eBook reader.
- Tablets are not as lightweight and portable as an ebook reader.
- One of the major drawbacks of a tablet is constant notifications from various sources which distracts and disturbs the flow of reading.
For a budget concerned reader, Kindle Paperwhite, Kobo Clara HD and Barnes & Noble Nook Glowlight 3 are the options to consider. Whereas if one is an avid reader and wants a full-on reading experience, they should weigh out the qualities of Kindle Oasis or Kobo Forma.
Also, for an additional charge, you can buy an ad-free version of Kindle.
